Sportshorts for Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

The Rock River chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its annual fundraising banquet and auction Feb. 2 at the Moose Lodge in Sterling.

Tickets are $55 per person or $70 per couple and include dinner and a Ducks Unlimited membership.

For more information, call Brad Cushman at 815-625-5711.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Report: Te’o girlfriend story was made up

Deadspin.com is reporting that the story about Notre Dame linebacker and Heisman Trophy finalist Manti Te’o and girlfriend Lennay Kekua, who reportedly died earlier this fall because of leukemia, is a hoax.

The death allegedly took place the same week as the death of Te’o’s grandmother, Annette Santiago, which Deadspin claims is legit, just before Notre Dame beat Michigan State 20-3 on Sept. 15.

During several interviews, Te’o recounted how Kekua requested that he send white flowers to her funeral. Te’o said that the last words he shared with Kekua were “I love you.”

According to Deadspin, not only did Kekua not die, she didn’t exist at all.

The receipts and bills are still being counted, but Dennis Gilbert has a pretty good idea of the success of Saturday’s 10th annual “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner held by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation in Los Angeles.

Gilbert, a special assistant to the chairman with the Chicago White Sox, said the event raised between $300,000 and $400,000. Proceeds from the event go toward scouts in need as the result of job loss, illness or financial handicaps.

NHL

Blackhawks simulate game day in camp

The Chicago Blackhawks won’t have any exhibition games, so coach Joel Quenneville simulated a typical game day during training camp Wednesday night.

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Bryan Bickell scored for the Red Team, which won 3-2. Jimmy Hayed and Marcus Kruger tallied for the White Team 3-2.

Source: Montador not near return for Hawks

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador has not skated with teammates for weeks with symptoms related to a concussion, and is not close to taking the ice, according to a source.

The source said Montador, 33, is not able to elevate his heart rate without symptoms returning, but has shown improvement in recent days.